German courses for the University Preparation Programme (VWU)

Please clarify questions on entry to and residence in Austria in due time (i.e. application, registration process, entry to Austria). Final responsibilities rest with the Austrian Authorities. The OeAD website (see Entry and Residence) provides helpful information.

Summer semester 2025

Continuing students, who only have to take the EPD and all continuing students of level AN

Continuing students, who have to take the EPD and additional subjects (levels AV and EV)

New students, who only have to take the EPD

New students, who have to take the EPD and additional subjects

Please make the online pre-registration and take the placement test at the VWU in Sechshauser Straße. All information can be found at www.vwu.at.

Winter semester 2024/25

Tuition fee and costs for additional study material: € 1,520

Summer semester 2025

Tuition fee and costs for additional study material: € 1,565

Additional costs will apply for:

Text books: approx. EUR 100 each semester

Class reading material: approx. EUR 20 each semester

The purchase of an additional dictionary (book) is recommended.

New students (admission to the university for the first time):

• If you have prior knowledge of German, you must take the VWU placement test. The result defines the VWU course level you will attend during the semester.
• The placement test takes about an hour and consists of several cloze tests.
• You will receive the result of the placement test and the class allocation by e-mail approx. 3 days before the start of the course.

Schedule + dates in the summer semester 2024:

NEW: Registration and placement test take place on the same day in person at our office. Take your time throughout the whole day. Travel to Vienna the day before at the latest. You already select the registration and placement day for your online pre-registration (upload of documents).

1. Arrival in Vienna: one day before your registration and placement day
2. Personal registration: 10:00 hrs - 12:00 hrs
   You will receive the location and time of the placement test after registration/payment.
3. Break
4. Placement test (written and oral): approx. 13:00 hrs - 18:30 hrs

Continuing students (students who have already taken VWU German classes):

• Your course result is the placement for the next semester. It is the result of your performance in the exams you take during the semester. Your teacher will tell you your placement result on the last course day of the semester.
• There will be no placement test for continuing students after the February break; the course result (placement) of the previous course is valid.
• You will receive the result of the placement test and the class allocation by e-mail approx. 3 days before the start of the course.

Daily lessons (Monday – Friday) for 3 hours and 40 minutes (20 minutes break incl.)

You will receive an e-mail regarding your course schedule shortly before the course starts. Let us know your preferred class time when you register for a course. The class allocation is organized centrally and unfortunately not all preferences can be met. Changing the allocated class is not possible.

Students of the VWU German courses must accept the class rules (English Version on Page 2) at the Sprachenzentrum.

• Attendance

Regular course attendance (active participation and dedication) is important and can be relevant for your course confirmation (MA 35). Attendance will be recorded by lesson (UE). Arriving late or leaving the classroom count as missed class. Independently keep track of your absences from the course!

• Tests

All test dates will be provided on the first day of your course. Your class time may vary on test days.

There are three mid-term tests each semester. The third mid-term test is subject to a minimum attendance requirement. You will receive all relevant dates at the beginning of your course. If you pass the mid-term tests, you do not need to take the written placement test at the end of the course. So even if you fail the mid-term tests, the result of the written placement test will allow you to obtain a written result.

There will be a compulsory oral test at the end of the semester in order to advance to a higher course level. Students in the levels FG and WF do not have to take the written or oral placement test.

• Accessible exam

People with attested disabilities have the right to an accessible examination mode at the EPD.

(Future) students of the University of Vienna: Please contact the Accessible Studying Team in a timely manner and present the form at the latest when registering for the EPD.

If you need special accomodation during class, such as a seat from which you can see better, hear better or get out of the room, please let us know when you register or speak to your teacher at the start of the course. If you have a psychological or learning and attention diagnoses, please consult the head of German courses - the language center strives to provide the best possible support for your learning success, but we ask for your understanding that we only have certain options available to us as part of the VWU courses.

• Absence at the tests

If you do not take the tests as explained above, you will have to repeat the same course level in the following semester.

If you are absent on the day of a mid-term test, your test will be marked as failed (5). It is not possible to repeat a test nor will there be an alternative date set.

• Course result (placement for the next semester)

Your course result is the placement for the next semester. It is the result of your performance in the tests you take during the semester. Your teacher will inform you on the last day of the semester at which course level you can continue.